Nov 26 protest case: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Aleema Khan

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday directed the police to take Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, into custody and produce her before the bench on October 22 in connection with cases arising from the party’s protest held on November 26 last year.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Aleema after her persistent non-appearance in court proceedings.

The order followed the indictment of ten individuals, including Aleema, in the Sadiqabad Police Station case pertaining to the November 26 protest organised by the PTI.

Those charged alongside her include Sajid Qureshi, Atif Riaz, Faheem Razaq, Adalat Khan Qureshi, Mursalin Kiani, Tayyab Abbas Shah, Umar Shah Muhammad Hanif, and Ali Raza.

During Monday’s hearing, ten accused were present before the court, while five prosecution witnesses recorded their testimonies.

The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema’s guarantor, Umer Sharif, and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi to authenticate the property documents submitted as surety.

The protest on November 26, 2024, had been staged to exert pressure on the government for the release of PTI’s founder.

Khan, 71, has remained incarcerated since August 2023 and faces multiple cases involving allegations ranging from corruption to terrorism following his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

The PTI’s three-day protest came to an abrupt halt after intense confrontations broke out between protesters and law enforcement agencies, resulting in the martyrdom of three Rangers personnel and a police officer.